Storm On The Island Flashcards
(39 cards)
Give an overall summary as to what Heaney is concerned about between man and nature
Heaney is concerned with the conflict between man and nature, his poem is about a group of people living on an island preparing for a storm. The community initially thought they were well prepared for the barrage of a storm however this confidence dissipates as the storm escalates and is replaced by fear
Give a Stanza Summary
It is comprised of one single stanza. The Islanders have designed their living environment to withstand storms. The land is barren and there is no hay which could be blown away by the storm. The narrator explains that living by the sea is not as pleasurable as it may seem.
Give Context of Heaney’s upbringing
Context
was raised in Northern Ireland within a Catholic household.
He often wrote about his personal and local experiences of his youth such as picking blackberries
What does the poem not explicitly have
(Context)
The poem doesn’t explicitly have any specific geographic or historical context perhaps to imbue it with a universality suggesting it could happen anywhere at any time.
What collection was Storm on the island apart of and what did it look at
(Context)
It was a poem in a collection called “Death of a Naturalist” looking at the Aran Islands and the power nature has over them.
What is a conceit and how is Storm on the Ireland a conceit for what was happening politically in Ireland
(Context)
It is also a conceit (extended metaphor) for the tumultuous political situation in Northern Island i.e. the Troubles which was a “low-level war”.
There were also divisions and conflicts between Catholics and protestants in Ireland.
Within Irish Poetry what are these islands a symbol of and what did this poem dismantle
(Context)
Within Irish poetry, these islands are a symbol of Irish culture. This collection dismantled the romanticisation of natural beauty to instead explore the potential violence of nature.
Finish the quote ‘‘_______and branches can _____ a tragic chorus in a gale.’’
And how the theme of Mankind vs Nature in this quote through the use of a personifying metaphor hints at nature consciously tormenting man.
The personifying metaphor “leaves and branches can raise a tragic chorus in a gale” hints at nature consciously tormenting man. Personification is used to imbue nature with enough power to compete with a man
In greek tragedy what does a ‘‘Chorus’’ give commentary on explain the events of
(Mankind vs nature)
in a Greek tragedy, a “chorus” would give commentary on and explain events- the absence of trees in this case depicts the isolation of the islanders who are left alone to fight and interpret the storm.
Finish the quote ‘‘spits like a _______ cat turned _______’’
And what shifts throughout the poem
Mankind vs nature
Throughout the poem, this personification shifts to zoomorphism (giving an object/person/noun the qualities of an animal) with the image “spits like a tame cat turned savage”.
How does “spits like a tame cat turned savage”.
Highlight nature as deceptive
Mankind vs nature
This could highlight how nature could be deceptive with its apparent beauty or innocence but it in fact has the capacity for violence and brutality. The juxtaposition of
“tame” and “savage” is used to portray the mercurial nature of the storm.
How does the theme of Mankind vs nature create a feeling of betrayal by nature
There is a sense that he feels betrayed by nature, there is repetition of the noun “company” to establish the myth that nature is mankind’s friend
How is the theme of Conflict and violence
Alluded to through title of “Stormont”
The title itself is an allusion to “Stormont” the government building of Northern Ireland. This is a suggestion that laced beneath the natural imagery of the poem there are political undertones.
How do the quotes “pummels”,
“exploded”, “salvo” and “bombarded” link to the theme of Conflict and violence
Create a ___________ field of
There is a semantic field of a battle created through “pummels”,
“exploded”, “salvo” and “bombarded”.
What does the Lexis of Conflict and violence indicate
A lexis relating to military violence could indicate that it is more political than we might initially expect.
What fears could Heaney be writing about in the theme of Conflict and violence
Heaney could be writing about the fear that overwhelms a community
when violence is on the horizon, like an incoming storm.
How is the Single19-Line Stanza of the poem a metaphor
(Form)
single 19-line stanza of the poem is a metaphor for the way the islanders huddle together in preparation for the storm, similarly, they build their “houses squat” to maximise their protection against the elements.
What does the lack of stanzas deny the reader of
(Form)
The lack of stanzas denies the reader any respite or pause to uphold the same level of
tension throughout the whole poem.
How does blank verse make the poem sound conversational
blank verse to make the poem sound conversational (this is mirrored by the colloquialisms)- this presents the experience of a storm as casual and regular; the people are so accustomed to the feeling of fear it has become an everyday occurrence.
How does slant rhyme make the poem unsettling
(Structure)
The poem generally doesn’t rhyme; however, the first and final couplet has a slant
rhyme of “squat/slate” and “air/fear” which is unsettling.
What does Slant rhyme deny the reader of
(Structure)
It denies the reader the satisfaction of a full rhyme which makes them, alike to the
islanders, expect a storm whilst feeling intense apprehension
What does the Cyclical Structure portray
(Structure)
portray the storm as unescapable and repetitive- they are stuck in a perpetual cycle of
preparation, waiting and recovery.
What does the Volta show a shift in line 14
(Structure)
Volta
There is a volta in line 14 as the tone shifts from optimistic confidence and preparation
to a defeat against the aggressive brutality of the storm
How is the theme of the Prelude similar to Storm on the Island
Both discuss the power of nature over man. They portray nature as a force which can incite fear in mankind.
